Conceptual Study of Problems And Challenges Associated With The Food Supply Chain in Developing Countries

Abstract

Purpose: The food supply chain (FSC) is a sequence of linkages and interdependencies that encompass a wide range of disciplines, from farms to food to consumer’s plates. Food supply chain management (FSCM) unites the major disciplines, aimed at providing an understanding of the supply chain (SC), supporting managers of the chain components, and improving the development activities of research in the SC. Method: Narrative review was conducted using available literature on Google Scholar and Scopus database. Results: In developing countries, many factors act as barriers to maintaining effective FSC. The potential reasons include the absence of infrastructure for cold chains and the lack of modern processing facilities that result in the highest inadequacies and losses of food and its allied products. Moreover, the whole FSC is loaded with various problems including quality and safety of products, poor SC connection, and cost-related issues. The important hindrance is “mandi systems (local word of wholesale markets)” that are entirely obsolete and ineffective in reducing food losses. Other issues include traceability problems, fair trading, technological issues, financial issues, processing, and value addition. Conclusion: Blending new and innovative models of FSC with mandi systems can decrease food waste and losses and further improve the income of producers and processors.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Panacea for Overcoming the Challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Academic Staff Performance in Tertiary Institutions in Enugu State, Nigeria

“…ICT is the engine hub of the modern world; used in all walks of life like education, politics, religion, economy, socio-cultural, medicine, art, science, agriculture, etc. have been impacted positively, and their roles in society advanced through the application and utilization of computer and internet devices to enhance production and service delivery (Onah et al, 2021; Anis et al, 2023). Hence, we hear about ICT concepts and phenomena in all fields of human endeavor like e-Government, e-Voting, e-Marketing, e-Health, e-Worship, e-Medicine or telemedicine, e-Booking, e-Ticketing, etc.…”

“…In light of the above, observation shows that all fields of human endeavors or careers in private organizations or public bureaucracies are re-wired toward ICT responsiveness aimed at delivering improved services, breaking barriers associated with distance, and ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency (Eze, 2005; Ezeani, 2005). Thus, COVID-19 disruptions and its associated new norms being part and parcel of human experience, challenge, and especially the sudden lockdown policies of the government aimed at curtailing the disease were not left untouched by the applications of ICT devices in mitigating the spread and impact of the pandemic (Anis et al, 2023) and ensuring employees’ performance in tertiary institutions. Thus, tertiary institutions adopted the globalized and computerized system of managing social/public affairs in time of COVID-19, intending to protect, provide, and promote employees’ performance, health, safety, and well-being (Adewole, 2020; Ali, 2020; Shava, 2022).…”